Clarification of hair regeneration mechanism by hair cycle control molecule Tsukushi

• Project/Area Number: 25860957
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Niimori Daisuke (2015) 熊本大学, 医学部附属病院, 特任助教 (70635789)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: Tsukushi / 毛髪再生 / 創傷治癒 / hair cycle / wound healing

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previously, we reported that Tsukushi (TSK), a member of the small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan family, functions as a key extracellular coordinator of multiple signalling networks. In this study, we investigated the contribution of TSK to hair regeneration. Analysis of wound tissue in heterozygous TSK-lacZ knock-in mice revealed neoepidermis, macrophages, myofibroblasts and new born hair follicles. Quantitative PCR and in vitro cell induction experiments revealed that TSK controls macrophage function and myofibroblast differentiation by inhibiting TGF-β1 secreted from macrophages.